Compare the2026 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Highlander Hybrid	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-22 MPH	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
Warning Issued-Low beams	2 sec	1.6 sec

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Highlander Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and Grand Cherokee have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Highlander Hybrid	Grand Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	55	87
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	79 lbs.	192 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	114	164
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	152 lbs.	527 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	366	458
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	41 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Highlander Hybrid is 1% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Highlander Hybrid’s reliability 42 points higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and 52 points higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4Xe.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 113 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 33rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 19th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Highlander Hybrid
	AWD	XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/35 hwy
		Limited/Platinum 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/24 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee 4xe requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Grand Cherokee. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Highlander Hybrid stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

	Highlander Hybrid	Grand Cherokee
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	142 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Highlander Hybrid XLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander Hybrid XLE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee Laredo.

Suspension and Handling

The Highlander Hybrid Platinum handles at .78 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 pulls only .60 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Grand Cherokee’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

Passenger Space

The Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The Highlander Hybrid has 32.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (139.5 vs. 107).

The Highlander Hybrid has .7 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the Highlander Hybrid is 1.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (19” vs. 20.2”). The Highlander Hybrid’s rear step up height is 2.3 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (19.2” vs. 21.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee.

	Highlander Hybrid	Grand Cherokee
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	37.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.3 cubic feet	70.8 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Highlander Hybrid easier. The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.2 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

	Highlander Hybrid	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.8”/48”/80.7”	n.a./41”/73.8”
Max Width	50”	55”
Min Width	45.8”	43”
Height	31”	32”

Payload

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee (1485 vs. 1240 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee (1485 vs. 1280 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Highlander Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Highlander Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Highlander Hybrid Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Cherokee Limited/4xe/Overland/Summit.

Compared to traditional radio, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Grand Cherokee and isn’t available on the Grand Cherokee Laredo A.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid retains 61.9% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 47.26% resale value of the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $1598.01736 in depreciation.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't recommended.

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